Sri Lankan News Updates with Discussions

UNP Matara District candidate Buddika Pathirana says party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will not hesitate even to sacrifice premiership to reach a post-poll agreement with the JVP-led Democratic National alliance (DNA) for the formation of the next government.

Answering a query by The Island following a remark to that effect he had made in a recent political talk show, Pathirana said the premiership would not be an issue, though he was their nominee for the post.

JVP heavyweight Lal Kantha, who was a participant in the programme on Sirasa, did not respond. He was not available for comment yesterday.

Pathirana emphasized that the JVP/DNA would have a say in the selection of the premier in the next election. Wickremesinghe had sacrificed many opportunities for the sake of the party, Pathirana said. Although the JVP had striven to depict the DNA as a political alliance, it had failed to attract any political party represented in the government.

Pathirana is the Opposition Leader of the Southern Provincial Council.

The new Parliament will meet on April 22.

SLFP dissident Mangala Samaraweera MP is reported to have said that the Opposition would form the next government even with a one-seat majority.

UNP sources told The Island that what Pathirana said was his personal opinion. The UNP would discuss the possibility of forming the next government with the JVP/DNA and any other political party, including the Tamil National Alliance. But, the premiership would definitely not be on the agenda for discussion, they said.

Government sources told The Island that the DNA general election campaign had portrayed defeated presidential election candidate, Gen. (retd) Sarath Fonseka as their prime ministerial candidate. Fonseka is in the fray in Colombo on the DNA ticket.

Sources pointed out that Fonseka, who is now under detention, is vying with Wickremesinghe for preferential votes in Colombo.

Minister Dallas Alahapperuma told The Island that an overwhelming victory for the UPFA was now inevitable in the backdrop of a landslide at the recently concluded presidential election. He said the Opposition was in chaos, though some leaders talked as if they had a chance to form the next government.

The JVP made an abortive bid to influence the appointment of Prime Minister in the last CBK administration. It went to the extent of nominating the then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Anura Bandaranaike or Maithripala Sirisena for the post.

lkcricket

7 Apr 2010 19:23:10 GMT

Before they come in to power,they are worried about posts. Please UNP dont get caught to dirty politics of JVP. JVP don`t have a proper breed. If they do have a proper breed they would have never gone on rampage in destroying the wealth of our nation.

In fact being Sri Lankans we have been most unfortunate with viscious fate of our COIN. This vicious coin has two sides. JVP and LTTE are reflected on each side of this vicious coin. Both destroyed our mother land, our culture our heritage and our future. Now LTTE is eliminated and please get hold with each other both BLUE and GREEN to eliminate JVP.

kiwikanga

7 Apr 2010 20:40:58 GMT

Leave aside sacrficing the premiership......is he ready to sacrifice the position of leader of the UNP/Opposition???????.

When a person who is not ready to give up his party leadership affirms his will to give up the prime ministerial post in a future government, does not that say a lot about possibility them losing the election.

kiwikanga

9 Apr 2010 12:53:14 GMT

Ado pimpi Raniyo danwath pala yanda gedara!!!

DONP

9 Apr 2010 13:39:50 GMT

JRJ was trying to make a man out of a woman with his two-thirds. Unless MR has any interest in making a Man out of a Faggot with his two-thirds, UNP will die before Mr. Wickramasinghe.

If not for JRJs Propotional Representation, this time it is worse than 1956 for UNP.